On Father’s Day morning, June 19, 2011, 17-year-old Jennifer Mejia was working her shift at Haven Drugs pharmacy in Medford, New York, days away from her high school graduation and prom and planning a future in the medical field. A man wearing a fake beard and sunglasses entered the store intending to steal prescription painkillers; he shot and killed Jennifer and the pharmacist, Raymond Ferguson, then fatally shot two customers, Bryon Sheffield and Jaime Taccetta, in the back of the head while taking drugs from the pharmacy.

Police arrested 33-year-old David Laffer and his 29-year-old wife, Melinda Brady, after the murders; Brady had driven Laffer to the pharmacy and acted as the getaway driver. Both later pleaded guilty. Laffer admitted to first-degree murder and received five consecutive life terms; Brady was sentenced to 25 years. Jennifer’s family filed a wrongful death suit against three doctors who prescribed pain medication to Laffer and Brady, but the suit was reportedly dismissed after the couple refused to release their medical records.

Does anyone have memories of Jennifer or information about her life in Medford to share with the community?